Rev’d Juan Miguel Simpson Bennett
The Rev’d Juan Miguel Simpson Bennett was born on March 31st, 1967, to Raymond Record Simpson and Lorie Louise Bennett in Colon, province of Colon, in the Republic of Panama. He is the youngest child of both parents. He grew up with his mother and sister.
Rev’d Simpson began attending the Trinity Methodist Sunday School in 1975 upon the invitation of Prof. Norma Skerrit, an English teacher at the Colon Methodist School, and with the support of his mother. The latter had him attending with her the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church. In 1981 he became an assistant Sunday School Teacher and, in 1982, was received into the membership of Trinity Methodist Church in Colon.
From 1982 to 1989, he served his local Congregation, Circuit, and District in the following capacities: President of the Youth Fellowship, Sunday School Teacher and Secretary for Training of Teachers, Director of the Youth Choir, Circuit Lay Secretary for Youth, District Youth Council Secretary, Vacation Bible School Director, Junior Camp Counsellor, District Youth Camp Coordinator/Resource Person, Member of the District Christian Education Committee 1985-1989. He also participated in the Annual Methodist Sponsored Drama Cantata, where he met Gina Rodriguez. In late 1982 he responded to the call to preach. After completing the required two years of study, under the tutelage of the Rev. Heinsley Johnson, he sat the exams, passed, and became a Fully Accredited Local Preacher, the youngest in his District at age 17.
Beyond the Church, Rev’d Simpson’s interest extended into Music, Politics, and Community Service. In High School, he played various instruments in the School Marching Band both at Abel Bravo and the Pan-American Institute; during the same time, he enrolled for four years at the National Music Conservatory. He also was a member of the first Junior Chamber Orchestra of Colon. In the community, he was a member of Saint Vincent’s Troop #2 of the then International Boy Scouts of the Canal Zone; he also served in the Junior Traffic Patrol of the Panama National Guard and the Red Cross Auxiliary at the Technological University of Panama. Atthe University, along with sports, he was affiliated with the independent Student Union Movement AVANCE (Moving Forward) and was actively involved in social activism.
He received his preschool education at Christ Church Episcopal Academy and primary education at the Colon Methodist School. He completed his Junior High School at Abel Bravo High School in Colon. Upon receiving a scholarship, he moved to the capital, Panama City. He did his Senior High School studies at the Pan-American Institute of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Panama, where he obtained the Bachiller Bilingüe en Ciencias (Bilingual Diploma in Sciences). After successfully sitting the entrance examinations, he gained admission to the Technological University of Panama, where he spent two and a half years in the Computer Systems Engineering degree program when he answered the call to be a candidate for the Christian Ministry in the Methodist Church.
Before entering Seminary, Rev’d Simpson received lay theological training in programs sponsored by the Panama/Costa Rica District of the MCCA, the Evangelical Methodist Church of Panama, and regional organizations like CLAI and CIEMAL. He received his training for the Christian Ministry at the United Theological College of the West Indies and the University of the West Indies. He also spent one year at the Latin American Biblical Seminary (now a University) in San Jose, Costa Rica.
After completing his Ministerial Training at UTCWI, he returned to Panama and married his High School/University sweetheart, Ms. Gina E. Rodriguez, in June 1993. Gina, a nurse, was trained at the School of Nursing at the University of Panama. They are the proud parents of four children: Juan Jr. (26), Angelica (23), Diana (22 ), and Maria Luisa (20 ).
Since graduating from UTCWI in 1993, he served in the Belize/Honduras District, carrying out the following responsibilities:
- Chaplain of Wesley College – Belize (1993-1996)
- Circuit Minister in the Wesley Circuit and Minister in of the Belmopan Methodist Congregation (1993-1996)
- Circuit Minister in the Roatan Circuit (1996-1997)
- Circuit Minister in the Utila/North Coast Circuit (1997-2000)
- Circuit Superintendent in the Utila / North Coast Circuit (2000-2007, and 2009-2010)
- Presbyter in Charge of Zion Methodist Church, La Ceiba (1997-2006)
- Circuit Superintendent in the Roatan Circuit (2006-2016)
- President of the Board of Management of the Methodist Bilingual Education Centre (2006-2016)
- Secretary of the Belize/Honduras District Conference (2009-2016)
He served the church and the broader community in civic, academic, and cultural endeavors on the Island of Roatan.
Secretary to the Connexional Commission on Mission, Evangelism, and Education (2015-2018)
In 2016 he was transferred to the Panama/Costa Rica District, and became Superintendent of the Panama Circuit. In 2018, he was elected to serve as District President and recognized as Bishop in the Church. In May 2023, at Connexional Council, he was elected Connexional President Designate of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas.